Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) seems to have a relevant role in detoxifying processes and in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine PON1 activity, the total antioxidant capacity, as well as entire lipid profile in children for screening of possible risk of atherosclerosis development. Serum PON1 arylesterase/paraoxonase activities were determined spectrophotometrically. The total antioxidant capacity of the serum was measured by TEAC method. Parameters of lipid profile were analyzed by routine laboratory methods. It has been shown that PON1 arylesterase/ paraoxonase activities were very similar to values found in adults. In children, no significant correlation between PON1 arylesterase activity and HDL was observed. PON1 paraoxonase activity correlated only with atherogenic index. PON1 arylesterase activity was significantly higher in girls than in boys. The antioxidant capacity was inversely related to the body mass index. In this study, PON1 activity was determined in healthy children aged 11 to 12 years and we found a similarity in PON1 activities of children and adults. Moreover, the results of our study support the hypothesis that higher body weight of children may contribute to a greater risk for development of atherosclerosis in which oxidative stress plays a role., K. Sumegová, Z. Nagyová, I. Waczulíková, I. Žitňanová, Z. Ďuračková., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
We studied the temporal relationships and the patterns of electromyographic activities of the posterior cricoarytenoid and thyreoarytenoid muscles (laryngeal abductor and adductor), the diaphragm and abdominal muscles in anesthetized cats during mechanically induced tracheobronchial and laryngopharyngeal coughs, expiration and aspiration reflexes. The posterior cricoarytenoid muscle activity reached the maxima just before the peak of diaphragmatic activity in both types of cough and aspiration reflexes and slightly before the top of abdominal muscle activity in coughs and the expiration reflex. Thus, this muscle contributes to the inspiratory phase of coughs and aspiration reflex and also to the expulsive phase of coughs and the expiration reflex. The thyreoarytenoid muscle presented strong discharges in the compressive phase of coughs and expiration reflex (during the rising part of the abdominal muscle activity) and in the subsequent laryngoconstriction (following the diaphragmal and/or abdominal muscle activity) in all four reflexes. This muscle was also slightly activated at the beginning of the aspiration reflex. The existence of four phases of the cough reflex is also discussed., I. Poliaček, A. Stránsky, J. Jakuš, H. Baráni, Z. Tomori, E. Halašová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Eleven calves from the European bison breeding centres of Białowieża National Park (Poland) were observed during the first 3 months of life to investigate their integration patterns into a group. Spatial relations of the calf with other bison in a group were reflected in the distance to group members of various categories and in the extent to which individuals synchronized their behaviour. Data on changes in the calf’s activity pattern provided information on the transformation in feeding habits. Three main phases were identified in the early period of European bison’s life: (1) establishment of mother-infant bond, (2) incorporation of a calf into a calf subgroup, and (3) integration of the calf into the whole group. Incorporation of the calf into a herd started in week 2. The pattern of calf’s integration was determined by transformation of its activity pattern. At first similarity of activity patterns among calves resulted in synchronization of their behaviour and proximate company. In the next phase, the change in the primary source of nutrition from nursing to grazing and gradual alteration of activity pattern towards an adult’s one led to non-specific spatial relations with group members and integration of the calf into the herd.
There is increasing recognition of the occurrence of non-native species that are invasive and potentially contribute to biodiversity loss. A two-year camera trap survey was undertaken on Mountain Mosor, Croatia to determine the daily and seasonal activity patterns of recently introduced non-native aoudad (Ammotragus lervia). Aoudad were most active in open rocky habitats and least active in forest habitats. The effect of habitat on the recorded number of aoudad was significant, while the effects of month and the interaction month × habitat were not. The results showed a typical bimodal activity pattern of aoudad, with a modest peak in activity between 5:00 and 9:00 a.m., and a second, more pronounced activity peak between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Since the native habitat of aoudad is similar to that in the Mediterranean region, the inferred range of daily and seasonal activities show that the species is well adapted to the new habitat.
With solitary-living species, such as the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), high individuality is also expected to influence activity. Here we studied the annual activity patterns of European roe deer in the Bavarian Forest National Park. We investigated the influence of age and sex, the weather, and the individuality. We used sex-specific generalized additive models with variables that considered the age of the animal and also the high-resolution site-specific parameters temperature, precipitation, and snow depth. Data from 20 males and 9 females were gathered continuously with GPS-GSM collars carrying a dual-axis acceleration sensor. Our results indicated that the main factors influencing the activity patterns of the crepuscular roe deer in the Bavarian Forest National Park are the individual, the season, and the time of day, and that weather parameters are secondary. GPS-GSM collars with a dual-axis acceleration sensor allow long-term, continuous, and remote activity monitoring of European roe deer.
This study investigated whether the males of the Tengmalm’s owl change their activity patterns, evaluated based on delivering prey to nestlings in respect of different food supply. During two breeding seasons 12 owl nests were continuously monitored by a camera system to obtain data on the time of male prey delivery and identification of prey items brought to nestlings. Even though the abundance of food supply differed in both years, there was no difference in the number of prey items delivered by males to their nests. Nevertheless, the species composition of food supply as well as the species composition of prey delivered by males to the nests differed between 2004 and 2006. Yet male activity patterns were the same in both years; they showed a monophasic cycle with one peak at the beginning of the night, around 22:00 and 23:00. Moreover, the males delivered prey to their chicks strictly at night time in both years and they started (the first evening arrival at the nest) and ended (the last morning arrival at the nest) their nest visiting in the same time in 2004 and 2006. The results of this study suggest that activity patterns of Tengmalm’s owl males in central Europe do not depend on varying food conditions.
To study annual and circadian activity proportion and activity allocation during the pup rearing period we analysed VHF telemetry-based data from the invasive, socially monogamous raccoon dog in North Eastern Germany. Proportions of active fixes for 26 adults indicate a mean annual activity level
of 58.3 %. There was no difference between males and females in mean annual activity or in the mean activity in each of the different seasons. A mean winter-activity level of 47.0 % ± 32.4 active fixes indicates that raccoon dogs did not hibernate; however, they became less active as the temperature decreases in winter. There were clear differences in the
proportion of active fixes observed in the biological seasons, with the
highest activity level (70.3 %) during the pup rearing period. Circadian
activity rhythm, sampled on a daily basis, indicates that raccoon
dogs were mainly crepuscular and nocturnal with a mean activity
level of 86.8 %. The mean diurnal activity level across the seasons was 32.4 %, ranging from 15.0 % in winter to 56.6 % during the pup rearing period. Allocation of active fixes for 24-h continuous observations during the first six weeks after parturition showed that males were mostly inactive, resting with the pups in the den, while females foraged to satisfy their
increased energy requirements. This point to a clear division of labour between parents, during the pup rearing period.
Recovery from exercise refers to the period between the end of a bout of exercise and the subsequent return to a resting or recovered state. It is a dynamic period in which many physiological changes occur. A large amount of research has evaluated the effect of training on intramuscular lipid metabolism. However, data are limited regarding intramuscular lipid metabolism during the recovery period. In this study, lipid metabolism-related proteins were examined after a single bout of exercise in a time-dependent way to explore the mechanism of how exercise induces intramuscular lipid metabolism adaptation. Firstly, all rats in the exercise group underwent a five-week training protocol (HIIT, five times/week), and then performed a more intense HIIT session after 72 h of the last-time five-week training. After that, rats were sampled in a time-dependent way, including 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h following the acute training session. Our results discovered that five weeks of HIIT increased the content of intramuscular triglyceride (IMTG) and enhanced the lipolytic and lipogenesis-related proteins in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, IMTG content decreased immediately post HIIT and gradually increased to baseline levels 48 h postexercise, continuing to over-recover up to 96 h postexercise. Following acute exercise, lipolytic-related proteins showed an initial increase (6-12 h) before decreasing during recovery. Conversely, lipogenesis-related proteins decreased following exercise (6-12 h), then increased in the recovery period. Based on the changes, we speculate that skeletal muscle is predominated by lipid oxidative at the first 12 h postexercise. After this period, lipid synthesis-related proteins increased, which may be the result of body recovery. Together, these results may provide insight into how the lipid metabolism-related signaling changes after chronic and acute HIIT and how protein levels lipid metabolism correlates to IMTG recovery., Min Chen, Lei Zhou, Siyu Chen, Ruonan Shangguan, Yaqian Qu, Jingquan Sun., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The biosynthesis and metabolism of testosterone and cortisol are altered by the high levels of adipose tissue and the constant state of low-grade inflammation of obesity. Resistance exercise (REx) has become one of the main lifestyle interventions prescribed to obese individuals due to its ability to positively influence body composition and some biomarkers, such as cholesterol and insulin resistance. Yet, little research has been done in obese examining the effects of REx on the testosterone and blood cortisol responses, two integral hormones in both exercise and obesity. The obese testosterone response to REx and whether or not it is blunted compared to lean individuals remains elusive. Conflicting findings concerning the blood cortisol response have also been reported, likely due to variance in REx protocol and the level of obesity in the participants in studies. Comparatively, both of these hormones have been extremely well studied in untrained lean males, which could be used as a basis for future research in obese males. However, without this endocrinological information, it is unknown if the current acute REx prescriptions are appropriate for eliciting a favorable acute endocrinological response, and ultimately, a positive chronic adaptation in obese males., C. B. O'Leary, A: C. Hackney., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Principal vasoactive systems - renin-angiotensin system (RAS), sympathetic nervous system (SNS), nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids - exert their vascular effects through the changes in calcium levels and/or calcium sensitization. To estimate a possible modulation of calcium sensitization by the above vasoactive systems, we studied the influence of acute and chronic blockade of particular vasoactive systems on blood pressure (BP) changes elicited in conscious normotensive rats by acute dose-dependent administration of Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil. Adult male chronically cannulated Wistar rats were used throughout this study. The acute inhibition of NO synthase (NOS) by L-NAME enhanced BP response to fasudil, the effect being considerably augmented in rats deprived of endogenous SNS. The acute inhibition of prostanoid synthesis by indomethacin modified BP response to fasudil less than the acute NOS inhibition. The chronic NOS inhibition caused moderate BP elevation and a more pronounced augmentation of fasudilinduced BP changes compared to the effect of acute NOS inhibition. This indicates both short-term and long-term NOdependent attenuation of calcium sensitization. Long-term inhibition of RAS by captopril caused a significant attenuation of BP changes elicited by fasudil. In contrast, a long-term attenuation of SNS by chronic guanethidine treatment (in youth or adulthood) had no effect on BP response to fasudil, suggesting the absence of SNS does not affect calcium sensitization in vascular smooth muscle of normotensive rats. In conclusion, renin-angiotensin system contributes to the long-term increase of calcium sensitization and its effect is counterbalanced by nitric oxide which decreases calcium sensitization in Wistar rats., A. Brunová, M. Bencze, M. Behuliak, J. Zicha., and Obsahuje bibliografii